2 deaths after plasma donation in Winnipeg not linked to donation process: Health Canada

Death assessments of two paid plasma donors in Winnipeg have been completed and Health Canada says they were not connected to the donation process.

The federal health regulator said Friday that its evaluation found no evidence of machine malfunction and that the equipment performed as expected, Health Canada spokesman Mark Johnson wrote in an emailed statement.

Johnson wrote that these assessments look at several factors, including the timing of events, cause of death, medical history and any events that occurred during plasma collection.

Health Canada begins assessing deaths after two adverse fatal reactions were reported in Winnipeg The first in October last year and the second on January 30, 2026.

Johnson said any further questions about the specific cause of death would have to be answered by the province’s chief medical examiner.

The donation process is subject to a number of regulatory requirements under the federal government’s blood regulations, including “the conduct of a donor eligibility assessment,” Johnson wrote.

Rodiat Alabede died on October 25, 2025 Friends say the 22-year-old had gone to an appointment at the Grifols Plasma Donation Center on Taylor Avenue to donate plasma.

Friends said they were told by a doctor that his heart stopped while administering plasma at the centre.

Little is known about the second death, which occurred this January at the Innovation Drive location near the University of Manitoba.

Look Health Canada says there have been 2 deaths following plasma donations at for-profit Winnipeg collection centres:

Health Canada says 2 deaths have been reported after plasma donations at for-profit Winnipeg collection centres.

Two people, including a 22-year-old international student, died after giving plasma at Winnipeg collection centres, which pay people for their donations.

The deaths made international headlines and led to Manitoba’s health minister considering banning paid plasma in the province.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara questioned why the province did not learn about these deaths until the second death occurred.

The federal regulator announced Wednesday that “all” Grifols locations will face new terms and conditions.

The list of conditions placed by Health Canada at Grifols sites across the country, including Winnipeg’s Taylor Avenue, includes reducing appointments so staff can fully follow procedures, re-evaluating the number of fully trained staff needed for positions and reviewing donor files before updating donor eligibility.

However on Friday, Johnson said the Grifols location on Innovation Drive is not subject to these new rules.

The site, officially known as Grifols Canada Plasma II Inc., operates under a separate license “with its own quality management system,” the email said.

Health Canada said in a statement Wednesday that the new conditions apply to all 16 collection centers “due to recurring, systemic deficiencies at multiple sites.”

Health Canada previously said the new conditions would remain in place until Grifols shows “continued compliance” with blood regulations at all licensed sites.

Manitoba’s health minister and the province’s chief medical examiner did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Grifols, a Spanish-based company that specializes in making plasma medicines, has more than a dozen plasma collection centers in Canada.

All establishments that collect plasma are regulated by Health Canada and must report to the federal regulator if a donor experiences a serious reaction during donation or within 72 hours of donation.

Johnson, the Health Canada spokesperson, said the regulator did not notify Manitoba’s health minister about the death in October because “adverse events related to blood and plasma donation are rare.” And, as a result, there was no standard practice for how and when to share this type of information.”

Both locations were inspected after the deaths and multiple non-compliance issues were found, Johnson wrote Friday. He declined to say what specific issues were found because those inspections are still considered ongoing.